Water displacing corrosion preventive

ABSTRACT

AN EFFECTIVE CORROSION PREVENTIVE COMPOSITION COMPRISING IN GENERAL A COMBINATION OF AN ALKYLARYL SULFONATE WITH A SURFACE ACTIVE AGENT SUCH AS PARTIAL ORGANIC PHOSPHATE ESTERS NEUTRALIZED WITH ETHYLENEDIAMINE OR BARIUM. A MICROCRYSTALLINE WAS MAY BE ADDED TO THE COMPOSITION TO ENHANCE DURABLTIYU CHARACTERISTICS THEREOF.

United States Ratent O US. Cl. 252-389 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE An effective corrosion preventive composition comprising in general a combination of an alkylaryl sulfonate With a surface active agent such as partial organic phosphate esters neutralized with ethylenediamine or barium. A microcrystalline wax may be added to the composition to enhance durability characteristics thereof.

STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST The invention described herein may be manufactured and used by or for the Government of the United States of America for governmental purposes without the payment of any royalties thereon or therefor.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION (1) Field of the invention This invention relates to new compositions of matter and more particularly to new compositions which retard and prevent corrosion.

(2) Description of the prior art Corrosion has been defined as the destruction of metals by reacting with the environment. Generally speaking corrosion is divided into three classes, none of which possess a clear line of demarcation one from the other. However, for study purposes the classes of corrosion include 1) chemical, (2) galvanic, and (3) concentration cell.

Chemical corrosion has been defined as the reaction of a material with some portion of its environment which results in deterioration of the material. Galvanic corrosion is an electrolytic reaction set up when two dissimilar metals are in electrical contact in an electrolyte. This reaction results in deterioration of the metal that is anodic in that particular joint. Concentration cell corrosion occurs in enclosed joints on metal surfaces. When such joints are wet, the moisture therein becomes stagnant. Diffusion of oxygen into the stagnant area is hindered which creates an unbalanced condition and causes an electrolytic action in which electricity flows from inside the joint to outside thereof and produces deterioration of the metal inside the joint.

Each of the foregoing classes of corrosion requires the presence of moisture. Accordingly, to successfully combat corrosion all that is required is to keep the moisture out. This is done in many different ways, prominent among which is the utilization of paint coatings.

The protective capacity of a paint film includes the inhibition of the cathodic or anodic reaction. Specifically the cathodic reduction of oxygen is influenced by hinder ing electron transfer or the transport of oxygen and water while the anodic reaction is prevented by incorporating within the paint a suitable pigment which acts as an inhibitor.

However, all painted surfaces are subject to eventual failure or breakdown at a rate depending on the type of paint employed and the environment in which the painted surface is utilized. Usually damaged portions of painted film surfaces occur in small areas and particularly so on aluminum metal surfaces such as aircraft fuselages, building sidings, etc.

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Corrosion which may occur in small damaged areas of paint films on aluminum metal utilized in the manufacture of aircraft is a serious problem since a slight amount of metal loss can lead to perforation and structural failure. Accordingly a need exists for a temporary preventive at such damaged areas to protect the surface until it can be repainted.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus, the present invention involves a new composition for retarding corrosion comprising a combination of a natural petroleum sulfonate and a salt of a complex phosphate ester. A microcrystalline Wax may be added to enhance durability of the film.

This composition supplies the existing need for a temporary corrosion preventive composition which is easily applied to areas on metals where damaged paint film occurs. It is colorless, readily applied, flexible, nontacky and easily removed.

STATEMENT OF THE OBJECTS OF INVENTION It is an object of the present invention to provide a corrosion preventive composition for application to damaged areas of paint films on metal surfaces which is superior to those of the prior art.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a novel composition for protection against corrosion which is colorless, easily applied, flexible, nontacky and easily removed.

A further object of the present invention is to provide temporary corrosion preventive compounds which are both economical and effective in use.

Other objects, advantages, and novel features of the invention will become apparent from the following detailed description of the invention.

film formed by this composition in the following relationship:

Percent 2 parts alkylaryl sulfonate plus 1 part surface active agent 9O Wax 10 This formulation may be dissolved in mineral spirits in a ratio of 1 part corrosion preventive composition to 3 parts mineral spirits and then packaged in a pressurized spray container using dichlorodifluoromethane (Freon- 12) as the propellant. However, any suitable manner of dissolving and utilizing the present composition may be employed.

In general the alkylaryl sulfonates employed had to both displace water and prevent corrosion. Of the vast hordes of alkylaryl sulfonates available, only those which were anionic and of relatively low molecular weight were effective. These chemicals were equally effective as either sodium or ammonium salts. In particular sodium sulfonate, ammonium sulfonate and barium sulfonate pro duced the best results.

Of the several phosphate-based surface active agents tested, the only ones which proved useful were salts of partial phosphate esters represented generally by the formula ROP(O) (OH)OM wherein R is an organic group, including an ethoxylated alkyl phenol, and M is a salt-forming cation, including barium or an amine. R is chosen to provide the proper hydrophylic/hydrophobic ratio upon which the effectiveness of these phosphate based chemicals appeared to be dependent. Specifically in which R is an ethoxylated alkyl phenol and M is barium salt of a partial phosphate ester and an ethylenea salt forming cation selected from the group condiamine salt of a partial phosphate ester were found to sisting of barium and an amine; and provide the best results. a microcrystalline wax to enhance stability of the com- The following table documents the results of water 5 position, said wax having a melting point in the displacement and corrosion tests. Test specimens were range of between 165 to 180 F. and a hardness of polished and sprayed with the salt solutions. After one between 16 and 25; minute, one milliliter of test compound was allowed to run the ratio of said sulfonate to said surface active agent down the specimen. The specimen was then rated for being about 2:1, and the total amount of said comwater displacement and then placed in a closed conbined sulfonate and surface active agent being about tainer above a water bath. After 24 hours the specimen 90% while the amount of said wax being about 10%. was cleaned to remove the test material and the cor- 2. The composition as defined in claim 1 wherein: rosion products. It was then examined microscopically for the alkylaryl sulfonate is selected from the group conevidence of corrosion. Other specimens were also presisting of sodium sulfonate, ammonium sulfonate pared as above and using the same test compounds were and barium sulfonate; positioned in sea spray apparatus and exposed for varythe anionic surface active agent is selected from the ing time periods. They were then examined microscopicgroup consisting of a barium salt of a partial phosally after being cleaned for evidence of corrosion. Other phate ester and an ethylenediarnine salt of a partial similarly prepared specimens were dipped in aqueous phosphate ester. solutions in controlled time sequences after which they 3. The composition as defined in claim 2 wherein the were cleaned and microscopically examined. thus defined composition is dissolved in mineral spirits TABLE I.--RESULTS OF WATER-DISPLACEMENT AND CORROSION T ESTS Water Corrosion displace- Chemical Type ment General Fitting Sodium sultonate Ammonium sulionat Partial phosphate ester, be um salt Partial phosphate ester, ethylenediamine salt" Dimethyl cocoarnine Ethoxylated cocoamine i .d d Do. Oleic acid imidazoline do .do None Do. Ethoxyleted nonylphenol... Nonionic. .do Moderately severe Moderately Fatty alkanolarnide -do do Severe se ml All test chemicals were satisfactory in being easily in a ratio of 1:3 and packaged in a pressurized conapplied, flexible, nontacky and easily removable. Moretainer utilizing dichlorodifluoromethane as the propellant. over all compounds were satisfactory in displacing water 40 4. An anti-corrosion composition comprising in inti which is a necessary characteristic in any corrosion premate admixture: ventive composition. However only those which were sodium sulfonate; anionic showed acceptable characteristics against corbarium salt of a partial phosphate ester; rosion. a microcrystalline wax having a melting point in the Further tests indicated that the sulfonates provided range of between 165 to 180 F. and a hardness of better film retention for long time exposure while the between 16 and 25; phosphate ester surface active agents provided the best said sodium sulfonate and barium salt being present protection against a pitting corrosion. in a ratio of about 2:1 with said ratio of sulfonate A microcrystalline wax is added to enhance stability and barium salt comprising about 90% of the comof the composition and to decrease tackiness of the film. position and the microcrystalline wax comprising the The waxes most suitable for this purpose appeared to be remaining 10%. the hard microcrystalline waxes having a melting point 5. The anti-corrosion composition of claim 4 wherein of between 165 to 180 F. and with a hardness of besaid composition is dissolved in mineral spirits in a ratio tween 16 and 25. of 1 part composition to 3 parts mineral spirits and pack- It should be noted that in developing the present coraged in a pressurized container utilizing dichlorodifluororosion resistant composition sodium sulfonate was commethane as the propellant. bined with the following corrosion inhibitors: t-butyl chromate; t-butyl chromate and a barium salt of a partial References Cited phosphate ester; zinc yellow; alizarin. While all of the UNITED STATES PATENTS foregoing compositions were effective, they formed high- 1y colored films. Since a composition which form d C I I- 1dd1x et a1. 252389 less films was desired, no further research on these com- 3 080 330 3/1963 Rudd et a1 positions was believed feasible at the present time.

What l f RICHARD D. LOVERING, Primary Examiner 1. A composition utilized as a deterrent against corrosion comprising in intimate admixture: I. GLUCK, Assistant Examiner an anionic alkylaryl sulfonate, Us. CL XR.

an anionic surface active agent having the general formula: 21--2.5; 106-14; 117105, 134; 252138, 161,

ROP(O)(OH)OM 305,395 

